League's standard has caught me by surprise, says Lye boss.

LYE Town's joint manager Martin Thomas has admitted that the standard of the Midland Football League's Premier Division has caught him by surprise.

Thomas and fellow manager Darren Goodall are now in the hunt for new additions to add further quality to the squad that won the West Midlands Premier League last season.

After winning the first game of the campaign at Kirby Muxlow, Lye have since lost back-to-back league matches at Westfields and Loughborough University.

They were then knocked out of the FA Cup last Saturday when losing 2-0 to fellow Midland Football League side Stourport Swifts.

Thomas said: "Since I last managed at this level the standard has increased. It is either the case that the teams we have played so far are all going to put there fighting for the title or the overall ability of the league is better than we thought.

"It has taken us by surprise a little because we didn't think it was such a big step to make.That is the fault of myself and Darren (Goodall) for not being more aware.

"When you get promoted you want to give the players the chance to show what they can do at the higher level. We still want to do that but we have realised that we need a little more quality in the squad.

"New additions will also help us cope better with player absence, which has affected us a lot already."

Thomas confirmed that he currently has seven days' notices in for around five players that could help bolster Lye's options.

One player Thomas is confident will stay with the club is star striker James Spray.

The former Wolves trainee has been the subject of an approach from Northern Premier League Division One South outfit Tividale.

"I'm not worried about the approach from Tividale. After speaking to James it was clear he wants to stay," added Thomas.

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"He is a great lad and a great player that will play at a higher level. We may well lose him at some stage in the future but I don't think that will happen just yet."

Lye will now travel to take on Coleshill on Saturday and Continental Star on Monday.

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